Chapter Eleven – The Grey Lady
The small group made their way slowly up to the headmistresses' office. Before they entered the school, Professor McGonagall announced that she had cancelled all lessons for the morning and would make a further announcement at lunchtime regarding the events of the morning. As they continued to walk they became aware that a large group of students were following them up the stairs. At the head of the group stood Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davies.
"Harry, wait please." Daphne called out. Harry stopped and turned to look the beautiful blonde in the face. Her normally ice cool demeanour was broken by bruises and tear tracks that had run down her face. She was walking with an obvious limp and her hair was rather dishevelled. Tracey was not much better and had her arm in a make shift sling.
"Daphne. How may I help you?" Harry asked politely.
"Harry, Tracey and I want to thank you three for saving our lives. If you hadn't have stopped them, we would of been raped and killed today by those bastards." Daphne replied with fresh tears falling down her cheeks.
Harry moved towards her and embraced her and then Tracey. "It was nothing. Those idiots needed stopping. Now go find Madam Pomfrey and get those bruises healed. Get her to look at your arm Tracey, it looks sore."
Both girls nodded at him gratefully, Harry turned and looked at the large group of curious onlookers behind the pair of Slytherins.
"Can everyone else please let us have some peace? I know you all have questions, I will answer some of them later, but for now I really need a sit down and a cuppa." At this a few people giggled and slowly the crowd dispersed. Professor McGonagall once more lead her small group up to the office and soon they all found themselves sat in front of the desk, with a large cup of tea in their hands.
"Now Mr Potter, perhaps an explanation is in order as to how you are still with us. No matter what you say I know what I saw, and you were dead, very dead!" Professor McGonagall stated.
Harry coughed uncomfortably. "What we can tell you is meant to be a secret, although how we are going to keep that now after the whole school saw is beyond me. A few days ago, we were both killed by a demon, and I mean really killed, as in dead. However we were not supposed to die then and some all powerful being had to bring us back. But when we came back we found that both Hermione and I are immortal. We cannot die by normal means." As he spoke, Fawkes flamed in and perched himself on Harry shoulders, looking very smug with himself.
"Don't worry little one, I have altered the memory of your recent resurrection from most of the school. Only those closest to you remember, Minerva, Poppy, Luna and a few others. You can trust them to be discrete. The rest think you used a cushioning spell but knocked yourself out when you landed." Fawkes told him, with a laugh in his voice.
"Sweet Merlin! Immortal?" Minerva whispered. "And Fawkes?"
"Well this bloody bird..."
"Language!"
"... decided to bond with us, and a right cheeky one he is too. No wonder Albus kept on eating sweets, it was to distract himself from the bird." Harry answered, much to Fawkes's and Hermione's amusement. "The good news is that he had altered the memories of most of the students, they didn't see me come back from the dead, but they thought I was just knocked out from a failed cushioning charm."
"That's as maybe Mr Potter, but immortal? Are you both sure?"
"Yes Ma'am. Both of us have 'died' a few times now, we both feel the pain due our life bond when once of us die, but so far we have always come back. We do know that if we are decapitated or hit by the killing curse we really will die." Harry answered her.
"Well I'm not sure what to say, immortality may sound appealing but you will not age as all your friends and family grow old and die around you, and your children... I'm not sure I envy you."
"Well that may be true, but we will have each other, for all of time. From what we understand we will have plenty of work to do over the centuries, that's assuming we can get rid of old Voldyshorts and then there's that little matter of 'Ron' to sort out." Hermione replied.
"Yes both are a problem. Now I'm very glad that you have managed to clean out the vermin in the school. We do have a problem with what to do with the punishment squad member, we cannot send them to the ministry as it's been run by the Deatheaters, but we cannot just let them go."
"Covert one of the dungeons. You can hold them there until we have a proper government back. Get the house elves to bind there magic and snap there wands." Harry replied.
"Possible, but it's not very pleasant down there."
"Well get the elves to decorate. These are rapists and potential killers we are talking about." Harry replied, getting a little annoyed.
"He's right Minerva, after seeing some of the injuries they caused I am struggling to feel any sympathy for their comfort." Poppy told her friend.
"Well yes you have a point. Pappy!" she called out. With a sharp 'pop' an ancient house elf appeared.
"Yes Headmistress?" he asked confirming that the school had accepted her as its new master.
"Could you prepare the dungeons to securely hold some junior Deatheaters? Please make the rooms comfortable but secure, we are not monsters after all, and please arrange to feed them and clothe them. Once there can you please bind there magic. I will snap there wands. Oh and you'd better make room for Mr Filch. He seemed to enjoy helping them a little too much."
"Yes Headmistress. Would there be anything else?"
"Yes, can you make sure all the students are in the Great hall for lunch? I need to make an announcement soon. Can you also ask all the staff members to meet me in my office as soon as possible?"
"Yes Headmistress." With a pop the elderly elf vanished.
"Now Harry, before I speak to the staff, what else can I help you with?"
"Headmistress, as we mentioned the other day, we need to speak to the Grey Lady. She may be the only one to help up with our task."
"Yes of course. Miss Lovegood? You know where to find her do you not?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Well then I shall leave it up to you three then. Can I ask you to be in the Great Hall at lunch time? It may be helpful to answer any questions and to keep the peace." She asked.
Once they had agreed, Luna led the pair down towards the Ravenclaw Dormitories. Once they had all left, Fawkes hopped onto his old perch and looked at the portrait of the previous Headmaster.
"Albus, you there?" the Phoenix asked.
"Yes my old friend. Things are going well it seems."
"Yes, the pair are progressing well, and they have bonded. They have also bonded with the other."
"Good, all as planned. Now tell me, how annoying have you been to them?"
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
The Trio were making their way towards the Ravenclaw common room. As they walked Luna was calling out for the ghost.
"Helena! Are you here?" she called.
As they rounded a corner they came face to face with the sad expression of the Grey Lady.
"Luna darling, who are your friends?" the sad ghost asked.
"Oh there you are. These are my very good friends Harry and Hermione Potter; they need to ask you about your mothers lost Diadem."
The Grey Lady immediately became agitated and a little aggressive.
"What do you want with it? You cannot have it, not since the last time!" she almost shouted at them.
"Helena, stop. These two are friends and they are good people. We need to find your mothers Diadem because we believe that Voldemort has used it to create a very dark item, a thing that needs to be destroyed in order to allow Harry to kill him." Luna told the distraught ghost.
They watched as the ghost visibly calmed down. "I apologise, the last person to ask after my mother's Diadem was that evil Tom Riddle, and he stole it and hid it somewhere. Even I do not know for certain where it is now."
Harry's heart fell at this news, if Rowena's daughter could not find the item, then what chance did they have.
"First of all my Lady, Tom Riddle is the same 'man' as Voldemort, and it is essential that we find the Diadem. We believe that Voldemort turned it into a Horcrux, and if we do not destroy it then all is lost as Voldemort will become immortal." Harry told her.
"HE DID WHAT?" Helena screeched causing the air around her to turn icy cold.
"He turned it into a Horcrux...well we think he did anyway." Hermione replied in a small voice.
The ghost turned away and raged a bit, cursing and floating through the walls as she did. She eventually calmed down and returned to the trio.
"My apologies once more, just the thought of what that monster did to my mother's treasured possession. I can see why you need to find it. However, I really do not know where he hid it."
"Can you think of anything that he said that may help us?" Hermione asked the now calm ghost.
"Well I did follow him when her first found the Diadem. He was muttering about some chamber or something."
"The Chamber of Secrets?" Harry asked.
"No, not there. I think he was talking about Godric's chamber - The Griffin's Lair."
"Oh Merlin, I wasn't sure that it even existed." Hermione breathed. "It's talked about in Hogwarts, A History but no one has ever been able to find it."
"Yes it is real, my mother talked about it. Each of the four of them had their own chambers; Salazar had the Chamber of Secrets. My mother had the 'Eagles Nest'. Helga had the 'Badger Set' and Godric had his Lair."
Harry looked at Hermione before turning to Helena. "Do you know where the Lair is?" he asked, hope evident in his voice.
Helena looked at him with a sad expression. "No, its location was never revealed to me."
Harry growled in defeat and frustration. He kicked the wall in anger and cried out in pain, before his body swiftly healed itself.
"But!... I'm sure that the heirs of this school can ask the right questions to the right entity, my Lord" Helena told him with a ghost of a smile.
Harry stopped and looked at her before turning to Hermione. "We only have three of the heirs here though!"
Luna gasped at this but remained quite.
"Yes, you are Gryffindor's and Hufflepuff and I am Raven..." she stopped and looked at Helena. Even though she was a ghost her dark brown hair was evident and the similarity was clear for all to see.
"Grandma?..."
"Yes my dear, you are my ultimate grand-daughter, the result of a brief dalliance between myself and the Baron before I left him. My daughter was born in secret and you are the result."
Hermione was stunned for a moment before continuing her train of thought. "Well if I am the heir of Ravenclaw, that still leaves Slytherin."
The ghost looked at the pair and was about to speak when Luna, who up till now had remained quite spoke up.
"Harry, you have defeated Voldemort at least three times yes?"
Harry nodded.
"Well in that case, according to Wizard law, you also hold the title of Slytherin by conquest. Between the two of you, you can take control of the school as its rightful heirs." She gushed, pleased that her friends were so important.
"Do you mean to say that we own the school?" Harry asked.
"No of course not, no one can own Hogwarts, didn't you know that she is alive, and you don't own living creatures. No, you are more her 'parents'. She will respond to you and protect you, but Professor McGonagall is still the headmistress."
"Luna, how do you know these things?" Hermione asked.
"Because Hogwarts is my friend. She would help me when no on else would. That was before I met you two. We need to help her now; she is in a lot of pain. The stuff that Snape did to her wards is hurting her a lot and she will die if we do not help her soon."
Harry felt a momentary surge of anger as he remembered the bullying that Luna had endured, but this was squashed as Luna placed her hand on his cheek. "It's okay Harry, it's in the past." She told him gently.
Harry sighed and looked up at the three women stood with him. "Okay, let's go and help Hogwarts and see if she can help us to find Griffins Lair."
Helena smiled at the trio and floated away, before coming back and mirroring Luna's gesture gently placed a cold hand against Hermione's cheek. Hermione felt the coldness pass through her and looked into her ancestors eyes.
"Come and visit me when this is all over my Hermione. We need to talk." She said before floating away through a wall.
"We need to find McGonagall" Harry stated and the trio left to make their way back to the headmistress's office. Once they got there the gargoyle just stepped aside and allowed them all entry. Hermione looked curiously at Harry and then back at the Gargoyle.
"The door will always open for you Lady Ravenclaw or your mate." The gargoyle told her.
"Oh!" she replied, blushing at the thought, and then smiling happily. They soon found themselves outside the door to the office and Harry was about to knock on the door when he heard a shout from inside followed by a cry. The three stopped and looked at each other in alarm, before Harry waved his hand and the door in front of them vanished. They rushed into the office to find a scene of devastation. The teachers were all spread across the room taking what little cover they could find and there wands drawn. In the centre of the room stood...well stood Snape, but not Snape. The figure looked exactly like the hatred ex-Headmaster apart from the fact that it was see-through. Nevertheless it was still capable of casting spells and had turned to face the newcomers. With his trademark sneer he cast a fast Reducto at the trio. Harry immediately conjured a shield, causing the curse to bounce off and hit the roof.
"What is it Mione?" Harry asked her from behind the shield.
"Not sure, but if I had to guess it's a Shade. Snape must have left a trap here and someone activated it."
"How do we get rid of it?" Luna asked worriedly.
"Harry!" came the shout of Professor McGonagall. "You need to destroy it with fire but only a very intense fire can destroy a Shade." She shouted from what sounded like under her desk.
Harry steeled himself and flung away the shield that he had raised. Immediately the Shade started casting spell after spell at Harry, most hitting him. Harry grunted in pain as cuts and gashes appeared all over his body. Hermione paled in pain and it was only Luna who managed to move her away from Harry and to safety. As soon as they were clear, Harry recast the shield spell, but encompassed the Shade as well as himself. He then gritted his teeth and called up the fire elementals. These burst forth and soon the inside of the shield was an intense inferno. The shade screamed in agony as it burnt and vanished, and Harry quickly passed out from the burns. As he did, the shield and the fire popped out of existence, leaving a blackened ring on the floor. In the centre was a naked burnt body, its features unrecognisable and unmoving. Hermione was also unconscious as she had felt the intense pain her mate had felt as he died. However soon, Harry's skin began to pale and heal, his hair re-growing and soon his body was normal and clear off all signs of the burns. With a gasp, both he and Hermione sat up as his resurrection brought her around at the same time.
"Holy Shit!" Harry cried and Hermione immediately went to him, conjuring a robe for him as she crawled over to him. Soon he was in her arms as they cried together. The rest of the room occupants slowly crawled out off whatever hiding space they had secreted themselves into. They were all looking at Harry and Hermione with a mixture of awe and fear as they contemplated the immortal pair knelt in each other's arms. Soon Minerva took charge and walked over to the pair.
"Harry, Hermione are you both okay?"
The two teens took a little while before they appeared to hear the question but eventually they slowly stood up and looked at the elder woman. Hermione helped Harry put on the robe, conjuring him a pair of shoes as she did. Finally Harry nodded with a grimace.
"That really, really hurt. Do you mind if I sit down please?" Harry asked
"Off course my boy, come and sit here." And the Headmistress conjured three more chairs to accompany the ones that had been upturned when the other staff members fled. These were soon righted and all of the rooms occupants were now sat.
"Harry, thank you for getting rid of that Shade. Snape left a trap that activated as soon as all the teachers were in this room and I declared myself Headmistress. We were struggling to contain it and no one dared to use fire on it in such a confined area. I must say that your spell work was amazing, and all without a wand as well."
Everyone nodded and Harry felt himself blushing as Hermione took his hand and gave it a squeeze. He knew that his secret was out with the staff, but didn't seem to mind. "Thank you everyone. As you may have guessed from earlier, Hermione and I have changed a little. We are both essentially immortal. When you all saw me fall earlier today, it wasn't a failed cushioning charm that knocked me out, but I was killed by the fall. Fawkes altered the memory from you all but if I cannot trust the teachers here, then who can I trust. This information is top secret so please do not disclose it."
As soon as he said this, the diminutive Professor Flitwick raised his wand and gave an oath never to reveal the information. Quickly every teacher in the room followed suit. Harry was overwhelmed at the show of support.
"Now Harry we had just stated the meeting, but what can we do for you?" Professor McGonagall asked him.
After a moment's thought and a quick look at Hermione, who nodded her approval, Harry turned and looked the teacher in the eye.
"This is also sensitive information. It seems that I am the heir of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff by blood and Slytherin by conquest and that Hermione is the heir of Ravenclaw. Between the two of us we are the schools heirs and protectors. We need to go to the Ward room to correct the wards that Snape placed on the school. The current ones are killing Hogwarts and we need to help her. We also need her help in locating Griffins Lair." Harry told her.
To say that the teachers were surprised was a slight understatement. Once they had got over the shock however Professor McGonagall spoke up.
"Griffins Lair is a myth isn't it?" she asked.
"Not according to the Grey Lady, who incidentally is Hermione's great-great Grandmother with a whole load more greats added." Luna told them. This caused more surprise and Hermione to blush from the attention.
"Well in that case this meeting will have to wait. You three come with me to the ward room. Luna you will have to wait outside, only myself and presumably these two will be allowed to enter."
"That's okay Ma'am. Hogwarts has let me in on a number of occasions when the Nargles changed the password to my dormitory and I had nowhere to sleep." Luna told her, causing both Harry and Hermione to scowl and glare at Professor Flitwick for not stopping the bullying. The head of Ravenclaw looked nervous, especially as Hermione was the Heir. He vowed there and then to stop any future bullying with his 'Claws'.
"Well okay then Miss Lovegood. Come along then." And she stood and led the trio out of the room and back down the stairs. They followed her along and past the main hall to a small passage way in the heart of the castle. There was a stone spiral staircase leading down deep into the basement of the castle. Eventually they came to a small wooden door. There was no obvious means of opening the door and it was only when professor McGonagall rested her hand on the worn surface of the door, did it open. They all walked inside and gasped at what they saw. Inside the room was a woman suspended in mid air. She was writhing around in agony as streams of blackness swirled around her. Her mouth was opened in a silent scream, and the tears were streaming down her distraught face. She was bound with magical back ribbons of magic and seemed to be unaware of their presence. On the floor in front of her was a stone 'alter' with a large stone tablet engraved with runes. There was an atmosphere of pain and death in the room, and there was evidence of blood on the floor and the tablet on the 'alter' was covered in blood and worse. The smell was disguising and after a quick look around they were shocked to find the blackened and broken body of a small first year child. Hermione and Luna turned and vomited, quickly followed by the headmistress. Harry steeled himself and walked over to the small bundle on the floor. He bent down in front of the body, noting that it was a small girl. She would have been pretty in life, with the remains of blonde hair just visible. With a sigh he concentrated and raised his hand. There was a yellow glow over the body and once it cleared the body was clean and whole again, dressed in Hufflepuff robes. The girl was still dead but looked as if she was merely asleep. Harry straightened her hair and kissed her forehead gently, before waving his hand once more and body vanished.
"She has gone to the infirmary; at least this way the family can see her to say their goodbyes." He said to no one in particular. He stood and walked over to his mate and pulled her into an embrace. "He will pay for this and all of his crimes."
"How could he do that? To a child as well?" Hermione asked in a broken voice. "And why?"
"As to the how, I cannot say, but for the why, he needed a victim to bind the wards of Hogwarts. Only dark magic could do this and it explains why we teachers have been so powerless to stop him. He has not only bound the school but us as well." Professor McGonagall explained.
"Well let's sort that out then shall we?" Harry said as he and Hermione walked over to the altar. With a wave of their hands they removed the blood and flesh from the tablet and then both placed there palms on the stone. As soon as they did they both began to glow and the light in the room dimmed. The binds that held the woman broke and with a flash she was free. The evil atmosphere in the room faded and smell of death and decay was replaced by one of fresh flowers and grass. The room brightened and with a gasp both Harry and Hermione removed their hands. Whilst they were in contact with the stone they had also replaced the wards around the castle with anti-Death-Eater ones as well as preventing anyone who wished harm from entering the school. For any normal witch or wizard this feat would have left them exhausted but for Harry and Hermione they didn't even notice the drain on their magic. They both had smiles on their faces as they looked up at the woman stood in front of them. Her appearance was radically altered. Gone was the expression of pain and the tears. Now stood a beautiful; if ageless woman. She smiled at the pair.
"Daddy, Mummy!" she cried and ran to them and flung herself on them.
"Daddy? Mummy?" Professor McGonagall mouthed to the giggling Luna.
"Well figuratively speaking she's right. Hogwarts is the child of the founders and those two are magical equivalent of them."
Hogwarts looked up at Luna and smiled. "Luna, are you well?" she asked. Her voice was odd, like many people talking at the same time.
"I am well Lady Hogwarts. It is good to see you again, and looking well now."
"Yes, these two helped me so much. What that man did to me was so horrid and that poor girl. It nearly broke me to see that. I am so glad Harry could at least restore her body. I just hope her spirit was able to move on after such a brutal death." The women replied, still held in Harry and Hermione's embrace. She finally released the pair and looked at them properly.
"Oh Sweet Merlin. You are both descendants from Merlin as well as my creators...and you're immortal?"
They both nodded shyly
"Goodness. That is amazing. I will have parents forever now, you will look after me wont you?" she asked like a small child.
Both Harry and Hermione nodded once more at this odd woman.
"Goody. Headmistress, I am now free and you and your colleagues are no longer bound. I wish you well as headmistress. I will not appear to you as I am now anymore as I can only appear to these three. Harry and Hermione because I am there's, and Luna because I love her. Teach well and good luck in the upcoming battle. Harry and Hermione, I have placed the knowledge of the Founders in you both. This contains spell knowledge as well as potions, charms and fighting skills. You now also have the knowledge of all of my secret locations. I wish you well by beloved parents and thank you." With a smile she faded away leaving a sense of happiness and well being in the room.
"Harry! I know where the Lair is!" Hermione shouted.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
In a darkened room in the Malfoy Manor, Lord Voldemort was not a happy Dark Lord. He had just finished punishing Snape and the young Malfoy. The room stunk of blood, urine and excrement from the pair. They were both sprawled out unconscious on the floor, twitching from the extreme effects of the Cruciatus curse. He had held them under it for so long that they had both bitten their tongues off. He searched their minds and found that they still had them - it was close in the boys case but both minds would recover eventually. He magically restored Snape's tongue, after all he still needed a potion master that could talk, but left the boy's missing. He found it amusing that the heir to the Malfoy name was a one armed, voiceless coward.
"RAT! Get in here!" he yelled
Peter Pettigrew paled and started to shake as he crawled into his Lord's presence. "Yes my Lord?" he asked in a stuttering voice.
"Find word from Bella. I need to know if she has completed her task." He commanded. "Oh and find me a witch, I feel the need to torture some more, and it seems I am running out of loyal Deatheaters."
"Yes my Lord."
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
'Ron' was worried. He had been hanging around the outskirts of the school in order to learn more about Harry and Hermione's apparent survival. He had watched the battle on top of the Astronomy tower and Harry's subsequent fall. No one, not even Harry could survive that, but then he watched from his vantage point, Harry get up and walk away. Now that was just impossible, even for Harry. As he sat on the tree top looking down, he suddenly felt the castle wards change, and with a violent push, he was expelled from the castle grounds. He found himself violently flung away and landed in a painful heap many miles away. He heard and felt his leg snap, and even with his natural healing skills, he knew that this body's time was waning. He needed to act and soon, but first...food. 'Now which direction to Hogsmeade?' he thought to himself, as he painfully staggered to his feet, his broken bones scrapping against each other.
Chapter Twelve – The Diadem
"Harry! I know where the Lair is!" Hermione shouted.
"So do I" Harry said in amazement, as the knowledge of the Founders coursed through his mind.
"Great, come on then." Luna asked them.
"First we need to speak to the school, I did ask them to meet me in the Great Hall at midday and it's nearly that now." The Headmistress told them.
Luna pouted in disappointment, but Harry told her that he did promise to help the Headmistress out. The four of them left the ward room and slowly made their way to the Great Hall. As they walked they talked.
"So how are you two coping with the immortality?" Minerva asked.
"Well it's still very new, and a bit frightening. We don't feel any different in ourselves apart from been a lot more powerful. I guess it hasn't sunk in yet." Hermione told her.
"Have you thought what you are going to tell your parents?" the elder witch asked.
"Bugger! I hadn't thought about that yet. We also have to tell them that we are married. Once I restore their memory they may not wish to ever speak to me again. How could I do that to them?" Hermione cried.
"Mione, they will understand. And if anyone has to be worried it's me. I've effectively taken their daughter away from them and put her in incredible danger. Not only that, but married her without their permission or knowledge. They are going to hate me!" Harry told her.
"They will NOT hate you, they will love you once they get to know what a wonderful person you are, not only that but because of you there daughter will live and love forever."
"Well I think that you may have that conversation sooner than you think." Luna said with a smile.
"Why, what do you mean Luna?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Well you put a memory suppression charm on your parents, yes?" Luna asked her
"Well yes, I didn't want to remove the memory of me, just temporally make them forget."
"And what happens to those sorts of charms when the caster dies?" Luna asked with a grin.
"Well they ...Oh Shit!" Hermione exclaimed, her complexion suddenly turning pale.
"What are you two on about?" Harry asked still confused.
"Harry, you know this, when a long term charm is applied, what happens to the charm if the caster dies?"
"It fails...Oh!...crap!"
"Yes, I imagine that you two will be getting a rather irate visit soon." Luna said with a smile. "How long is the flight from Australia?"
"Twenty six hours or there abouts." Hermione said with a sigh. "That would have them landing about...now!" she said as she made the calculations. "That's assuming they left straight away."
"Good assumption, considering they just remembered a whole different life and a daughter they had forgotten." Luna told her.
"Yeah, it's what I would do." Hermione replied, now accepting of the events. "Dobby!" she called. With a pop the diminutive house elf appeared in front of them. Unlike before when he wore odd clothing, this time he was wearing a rather smart suit, with a Potter emblem on the breast pocket. He looked more mature and was a lot more relaxed in their presence.
"Yes Mistress Hermyny, how may Dobby help you today?" he asked in a more normal voice.
"How are you Dobby, and how is Winky?" she asked
"Dobby is well, as is Winky. We are both very happy to be married. Winky is looking after the Weasleys at the cottage as instructed."
"Thank you Dobby. I need you do something for me. We believe that my parents will be arriving at their home soon, and will be rather annoyed with me. Can you go there and if they arrive ask them to go with you to the cottage. I will come and see them as soon as I can, but I need them safe. Voldemort knows where they live and has attacked there once already. I cannot take the risk that they may do so again."
"Off course Mistress Hermyny, right away" and with a 'pop' he was gone. By now the quartet had made it to the main doors of the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall stopped them before they entered and looked at Harry and Hermione with a calculating look.
"Lord and Lady Potter, may I ask a boon of you both?" she asked formally
Both teens caught the formal address and realised that this was not an idle question. They motioned for her to continue.
"I know that all the teachers have given their oath to keep your immortality a secret and that you asked for us to keep the news that your are the Founders Heirs a secret. I am asking you to reconsider the last of your request."
"Oh, may we ask why?" Harry asked.
"Off course. The students of this school have all experienced a most traumatic few months under the rule of that evil man. Many have been injured or worst and as we discovered at least one has been killed. They also have had little support and help from the teaching staff. Now we know that the dark magic Snape used not only changed the wards but also bound our magic to stop him from committing these atrocities, but they will feel naturally let down."
"Did you not suspect your magic had been bound?" Hermione asked, curious.
"Not until the other day. It was like living in a half dream, I was aware of what I was doing, and what was going on around me, but I was powerless to stop it. It was only when Poppy took me to your cottage and beyond the control of the school, that I became aware of the binding. I was going to try to do something when I got back but I was attacked before I could do anything. Anyway the students are going to feel let down by the teachers, whether it was their fault or not. If I tell them that the heirs of the Founders have returned and that they have altered the wards to protect us all then it may go some way in reassuring them that Hogwarts is once more safe."
Harry grimaced at the thought, he hated all the attention in the first place, and this would thrust both him and Hermione further into the spot light. Even as he thought that, the other part of his brain, the section that spoke with Hermione's voice was telling him that his own personal comfort was unimportant when the safety of all those students was at risk. He owed it to that small girl they had found, and all the others that were like her. Even as he was thinking this he could see Hermione nodding at him.
"Okay Professor, what do you need us to do?" he asked placing both their trust in her.
"Thank you both. All I need is for you to tell them what you have both done and what impact this would have. If you could mention about the teachers been bound as well that may help to re-enforce the information with them. What are your official titles?"
They both answered and the headmistresses eyebrows rose at the 'Emrys' name. She knew straight away what it signified and had to stop herself from curtsying to the pair.
"Ok Professor. Can I ask a question?" Harry asked her once she regained her composure.
"Of course."
"What was the name of the young girl we found?" Harry asked in a quiet voice.
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened and for a moment they saw the real Minerva McGonagall. Not the sometimes harsh and brusk teachers, but the woman who had spent most of her life looking after her charges, and often falling in love with them in one form or another. They saw the pain of loneliness and the pain of failure in her eyes before she answered them.
"Charlotte. Charlotte Perkins. She was only e-e-eleven..." this was enough for the tears to begin falling down her face. Hermione rushed to her and embraced the older teacher.
"Professor...Minerva, It wasn't your fault. Snape killed her and he WILL pay for that, I promise you that. Now you need to be strong, the time for grief can wait."
It was odd to see the younger woman comfort the older, but Minerva took comfort from Hermione and straightened her back and wiped away the tears.
"Thank you Hermione, you are a good woman. Shall we do this?" she asked.
With a nod from the trio, Professor McGonagall pushed open the doors and walked into the Great Hall. The entire student body was stood waiting for her, and all the teachers were stood at the front. All heads turned to watch the new headmistress and her guests and it was so quite you could hear a wand drop. As the four of them slowly made their way up the centre of the room, one person slowly began to clap, this was followed by another and then another until soon the entire hall was filled the noise of clapping and cheering. The chant "McGonagall! McGonagall!" was soon taken up and the elderly witch's eyes were once more filled with tears, this time for happier reasons. She mounted the stage and stood and the front, Harry, Hermione and Luna behind her. She tried in vain to calm the enthusiastic applause for a few minutes, before her actions seemed to have some effect.
"Thank you all, I'm not sure that I deserve your applause, but I am very pleased that you seem happy about the change in head teacher. I have a few things that I need to say, and I first need to begin with an apology. An apology to all of you who have suffered under Snape and his punishment squad. We teachers are supposed to keep you free from harm whilst you are under our care and we failed in that job. We have since leant that Snape altered the wards on the school and also bound all the other teachers' magic, but this is no excuse. I have arranged for a few councillors and extra medical staff to be available if anyone wishes to see them. Any female that has been affected in a more personal manner then we have specialists from St Mungos coming to help." She paused as she let her words sink in with the now subdued students. After a while she continued.
"You will be all pleased to know that Snape has fled and that Amycus Carrow is dead. His sister, Filch and the punishment squad will be all kept in the dungeons. There wands have been snapped and the elves have bound there magic. There will be NO retribution for any student from Slytherin who has not taken part in these disgusting activities. Any student that has been involved however can expect the same treatment. You will be pleased to know that the wards have been altered but not by myself but by the heirs to the Founders of Hogwarts. The two heirs have only just found about their heritage and are a little shocked by it themselves. I ask you to respect their privacy and give them the space they need to perform the tasks they need to do in order to bring this war to an end. Please allow me to introduce Lord Harry James-Hufflepuff-Gryffindor-Emrys Potter and Slytherin by conquest and Lady Hermione Jean-Ravenclaw-Emrys Potter."
There was a stunned silence as everyone processed the information. No one spoke or made any noise; that was until Lavender Brown shouted very loudly, "Bloody Hell married?"
At this a small giggle started and then a laugh. Once more the hall erupted in a cacophony of sound, a mixture of applause and laughter at Lavenders comment.
Harry moved to the front of the stage and waited until the noise had died down. "Guys, calm down. It's still Hermione and I. We only found about this the other day. I'll keep this short as public speaking has never been my thing. Mione and I have repaired the wards. No one with a Dark Mark will be allowed into the school grounds, nor will anyone wishing to harm a student be allowed. Anyone already with a Dark Mark in the school will have their magic bound to squib level and once they leave they will never be allowed back. We have also removed the bindings from the teachers and they now have full control of the school. That is all I wish to say."
Harry moved to sit down but there was a shout from the Gryffindor table.
"Are you two staying now?" Seamus asked.
"Sorry no, we have a small task to do here and then we need to move on. I cannot tell you anymore at the moment, but suffice to say Professor McGonagall is in complete agreement with us."
"Where's Ron?" Lavender asked everyone aware of their brief fling a few years ago. Lavender still harboured a candle to the red-head.
Harry paused, unsure on how to handle this situation. He turned to look at Hermione who shrugged. "We cannot tell them but Lavender should be told" she whispered in his ear. Harry turned back to the crowd.
"Ron has left us, and that is all we can say on the matter at the moment. Miss Brown, we will speak to you privately later. Are there any other questions?" Harry asked
"Yes, when did you get married?" Padme asked
Harry blushed and looked at his wife for support. Hermione moved up to strand next to him and addressed the crowd. "Harry and I made our magical wedding vows a few days ago. The magic accepted the vows and we are now married. Once all this is over and Voldemort is really dead, we will have a proper wedding ceremony."
"Where were you when you got married?" Lavender asked.
"We were in the shower together!" Hermione replied to the gasps from the girls and the catcalls from the boys. "If that's all, I will hand back over to your new headmistress" Hermione replied with a proud grin on her face.
"Well yes" Minerva said, a little embarrassed. "Now onto the future. As Lord Potter has said, no one with a Dark Mark will be allowed into the school, that is not to say they will not try other means to attack us. We need to work together to keep our world safe. We will be doubling the amount of defence lessons, and I have contacted some friends of mine and we will be getting some additional guards in the form of some ex-Aurors. No Hogsmeade visits will be allowed, but you will be allowed to contact your parents. Now onto a more sad note. The Potters and I recently discovered that the way in which Snape changed the wards. You may have all noticed that young Miss Perkins disappeared a few weeks ago. We all thought she had run away, but it appears that Snape took her and used her blood to make the change to the wards. He killed her and left her body to rot. Lord Potter restored her body, but she is still dead. This is the world in which we are currently living and I say enough is enough. We will honour young Miss Perkins by working our hardest to make this world a better one."
She could see the tears in some of the student's eyes and they learnt about the young Hufflepuff's fate. Her words also seemed to galvanise the minds of the students. This was their school, and their world. Not the Deatheaters and certainly not Voldemort's.
"Now unless there are any other burning issues, I suggest we eat lunch. Lessons for the rest of the day are cancelled whilst the staff and I review the timetables. Can the Prefects from last year resume their duties and meet with me after lunch. If your house is missing any Prefects" at this she looked over at Slytherin, "Can the few that you do have meet with me with recommendations for replacements."
With that the food appeared and a subdued group of students started to eat. Professor McGonagall sighed and turned around to face her teachers and the trio stood with them.
"We have a lot of work to do, and a lot of young people that need our help. Let's eat and then start the real work."
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
The trio were stood in the office of the new headmistress. The headmistress had just finished an impromptu staff meeting that had resulted in many changes to the staffing and the timetable. The councillors and extra medical staff had arrived and had set up. Students were already been seen, and even though many tears had been shed, the councillors had assured everyone that this was a good sign. As Founders Heirs Harry and Hermione had been asked to be present at the staff meeting and Luna had tagged along, but other than the odd comforting word they had not contributed much. They were both eager to look for the Lair.
"Ma'am..."
"Harry, when we are in private, do you think you can call me Minerva. With all your titles I'm finding it hard not to get down on one knee whenever you enter the room, so the least you can do is to call me by my given name."
"Sorry, Minerva...gosh that's going to be hard to get used to, anyway, would you like to come with us to the Lair?"
The headmistress smiled for the first time in a while at the thought. "Yes, I would love to. Ever since I was a student here, I often wondered about the Founders room, and if they were a myth. Now I'm sat her with their heirs. You try to stop me from coming with you." Her words and the look in her eyes had done remarkable things for the elder women; they made her look young and vibrant once more.
With a smile Harry led them down the steps and towards the Gryffindor tower. As they walked they passed the corridor that led to the Hufflepuff Dormitories. Peeking out from behind the corner Harry spotted a young looking girl. However unlike most girls this one was see-through, but unlike the rest of the ghost they had seen, she was still colour, faded but coloured nevertheless. She was looking terrified and Harry could see that the colour of her hair was blonde. With a sad look he connected the dots in his head.
"Charlotte?" he called. "Is that you?" the rest of their group had stopped and was looking over at the young ghost.
"Miss Perkins? It's okay, no one is going to hurt you now." Minerva gently told her. The ghost slowly moved her way around the wall and walked over to the group. Even though she was floating a few inches above the ground, she still moved her legs when she walked. The tears were clearly visible on her face as she wept.
"Professor McGonagall! It was horrible; he really hurt me and look at me now! What am I supposed to do?" The ghost tried to hold on to the elder woman but she passed through her. With a cry of frustration she turned her back and made to leave.
"Charlotte wait! I may be able to help." Harry called after her. This caused the young sprit to stop and turn.
"Help? How? And who are you?" she asked in a small voice.
"Hi! I'm Harry Potter, and first you need to tell me how long you have been a ghost?"
"Not long I think, I was still in my body, bound by the evil magic, but then something happened and I felt myself been released. I could have moved on, but I needed to stay, I not sure why but something was telling me to stay. I felt bound to the castle and she was telling me to find the One."
"What 'one'?" Luna asked.
"The one who can help me. That's all I know." She replied
Hermione looked over at Harry with a look. "What are you thinking Harry?" she asked.
"Well look at her, she's more than just a ghost, she has a soul, and her body is now in perfect condition. Why don't we just connect the two back together?"
"Mr Potter, that's not possible, no one can bring back the dead?"
"Oh I agree if the soul has moved on, that's necromancy and very dark, however this is different. Young Miss Perkins here has not moved on, her soul is intact as is her body. I have the knowledge and the power to do this. When I got the knowledge from Lady Hogwarts, I remembered that Helga did this once for Godric. He was attacked and his soul removed from his body. Everyone thought he was dead, but Helga knew that she could help and she did. This is the same situation; Miss Perkins did not die a natural death, if we don't do this then she will be fated to this existence for all eternity. That's not a fate I would want and we owe it to her to try."
"Your right Mr Potter. Well her body is in the infirmary. Her parents arrived just after lunch and are with her now. I guess we need to do this now yes?"
"Yes, come with me Charlotte" Harry told the girl. "Let's get you sorted."
The group changed direction and made their way to the infirmary. As they entered they found it full of students, councillors and medical staff. Madam Pomfrey made her way to the group.
"Headmistress, how may I help you? You seem to have Mr Potter with you but unlike most times I see him he seems uninjured this time...Oh Miss Perkins, I am so sorry."
"Poppy, where are the Perkins?" Minerva asked her old friend.
"They are in a side room, why?"
"Take us to them, and please stay, you may be needed."
The healer led the odd band of people to a small side room of the main ward. Inside was a heart wrenching scene; a young couple was stood crying over the small body of Charlotte. The woman had the same blonde hair and her father was trying to comfort his wife, but not getting very far. Both appeared to be muggles judging by their clothes. The tears were flowing down the faces of both adults as they tried to come to terms with the situation, but as soon as they heard the door open they both looked up at the people who had intruded in their grief.
"McGonagall! You told me that Charlotte would be safe here and now look!" the man grated at her.
"Mr Perkins, I cannot tell you how sorry I am, but do not give up hope..."
"Hope? What hope, my only child, my little Charlotte is dead and you talk about hope!" he snarled at her. That was before the other figure in the room came forward.
"Daddy?" the little ghost said in a broken voice.
"Lotte? What? Is this some sick joke?" he asked, his wife looking up for the first time.
"No Daddy, it's really me"
Both parents stood and walked to their daughter, both trying to embrace her. When they failed they both looked up in fear and confusion. The Headmistress tried to explain.
"Sir, your daughter did not die a natural death. When the previous headmaster took her he used her life-force to commit a truly evil act. Her Soul and essence was bound to this castle in a way no one imagined. When Lord Potter here broke the spell it realised her from the purgatory she was suffering. Normally when this happened the soul is allowed to move on to the next great adventure, but in this case because she was bound to the castle this didn't happen and she became a ghost, but more than that, a ghost with a soul. Because Harry repaired her body this presents us with a unique opportunity. Harry says he can meld the two back together."
"You mean she would be alive?" the woman spoke for the first time.
"Yes, but there are conditions." Harry said for the first time. "Sorry, my name is Harry, and yes I know how to bring her back, but as I said there are conditions. She would still be bound to the castle for all her life. She would not be able to leave the grounds for any length of time, a few hours at the most. She would not be able to come to your home or perform any magic that would hurt the castle in any way, but yes she would be alive. She would live a normal lifespan, and as I am the heir to the Founders of this castle I can assure you that she would have a place here. First as a student and then as an adult, a teacher maybe. I can also assure you that both of you are welcome here at any time you wish to see your daughter."
"You would do that? You can do that? Charlotte is this what you want?" her dad asked her
"Well it's not as good as been able to come home, but is better than been dead...or a ghost." The young girl replied.
After consulting with his wife he turned to Harry. "Well if you are sure, then please go ahead." He said
Harry took a deep breath and walked over to the inert body. Hermione followed him and they stood on either side of the young girl.
"Charlotte, please come and stand at the foot of the bed." Harry asked the ghost. "This may hurt a little but it will be okay." With that he took Hermione's hand in one of his and they both placed their free one on the chest of the girl. Both shut their eyes and began to concentrate. The lights in the room dimmed as the occupants felt the build up of magic. It began to crackle around the two stood over the body, and they both began to glow a bright white light. Harry raised his head and spoke a long incantation that he repeated three times.
"Naturae viribus dominorum peto ut anima corpori terrestri rursus ad terminum. Magica mei mandabo per magicam antiquiores esse!
Naturae viribus dominorum peto ut anima corpori terrestri rursus ad terminum. Magica mei mandabo per magicam antiquiores esse!
Naturae viribus dominorum peto ut anima corpori terrestri rursus ad terminum. Magica mei mandabo per magicam antiquiores esse."
The ghost stood at the foot of the bed began to dissolve into tiny particles of silver light; the last part to disappear was her face as she smiled at the pair stood over her. The particles flew around the room for moment before settling over the body and slowly dissolved into the waiting shell. Bright light once more filled the room as Charlotte glowed before the light faded and the two stood over her collapsed to the floor. Poppy caught Hermione and Minerva caught Harry. They both gently lowered them to the ground and watched. The chest of Charlotte slowly rose as she took in a breath and with as gasp she opened her eyes and cried out in pain, fear and horror.
"MUMMY! DADDY!" with these cries her parents rushed to her side and held there once more alive daughter. Both had expressions of absolute love on their faces as they held her.
"Shush 'Lotte, it's going to be alright!" her mother softly told her.
Both Harry and Hermione groaned as they regained consciousness. They were both as weak as a new born kitten but the scene playing out in front of them warmed their hearts and gave them a bigger boost that a vat load of Pepper-up potion could ever have done.
Mrs Perkins looked over at the two exhausted teens and with happy tears falling down her face thanked them.
"Thank you two so much for giving us out 'Lotte back, we never can repay you for that and you have made a friend for life in all three of us."
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
It had been an emotional hour or so after the ritual had been performed. Both parents had hugged Harry and Hermione but it was when the young girl had kissed both on the cheek that resulted in the facade cracking and both Harry and Hermione broke down and cried with her. Poppy Pomfrey was amazed at what she had witnessed. Never in her entire life had she seen such powerful magic and she was just glad that the two of them were on the side of light. Luna was over the moon, she knew that the young girl had a part to play in the deeds of the future, and when they had discovered her body she was at a loss on how things would work out. The magic that the pair had performed put everything back on track and also reunited a family.
After Harry had found guest quarters for the trio, and Poppy had performed some scans on the young girl they were allowed to leave and had begun the process that would bring their lives back to some sort of normality. Harry, Hermione, Luna and the headmistress had resumed their journey to the Lair. Once more Harry was leading them towards the Gryffindor tower, but instead of opening the entrance guarded by the Fat Lady, he had continued down the corridor to a small disused room that had been used as a store room in the past. Brooms and cleaning equipment had been left, along with the remains of a long since dead animal. Harry waved his wand and cleared the room. In the corner was a small statue built into the wall. Upon closer examination it was a small statue of a Griffin.
"Is this it Harry?" Minerva asked them.
"This is the entrance way yes; you may need to stand back a little." Harry told her. Her placed his hand on the statue and whispered a few words "Ddro ta amin!"
"What language was that?" the headmistress asked.
"Elfish, I think" Luna replied.
Harry looked over his shoulder at the pair and grinned as the small griffin statue rotated and moved away from the wall. Behind it was a small panel with a hand shaped indentation on it. Harry reached inside and placed his hand on the panel. This caused the entire back wall to flicker and fade away leaving a door. This silently opened and allowed them to see the large room on the other side. It was a large study like area with a desk and chair. On one wall were rows of book shelf full of old looking books. There was a large fire-place and a small table next to it. The walls were of deep oak panelling and the stone floor was shiny with use. A beautiful rug covered part of the floor and old tapestries hung on the walls. On one of the wall hung a large painting of a blonde haired man, with a familiar looking sword in his hand. The painting was static, as if asleep. On the desk stood a silver circlet with a large sapphire stone in the centre.
"The Diadem!" Luna breathed. They had found it. Luna was about to walk into the room when Harry suddenly stopped her.
"Luna wait! This doesn't feel right." He held his hand up to the entrance and closed his eyes.
"Bugger!" he breathed. "There is a time-lock on the door. If you had entered you would have aged and died within seconds. It's only on the entrance, beyond time is moving normally but anyone entering would age over a hundred years in moments."
"Damm, okay let's try this, Accio Diadem!" Hermione called, but the Diadem remained where it was. "Well that was always going to be a long shot!" she said. "What now?"
"Simple, I go and get it" Harry replied.
"But Harry, you will age and die...oh!" the Headmistress said.
"Exactly, I will not die, but it may sting a bit."
"Harry, you sure about this?" Hermione asked him.
"Yeah, wish me luck" and with that he walked through the entrance. The effect was startling, for a few seconds he seemed to freeze, his hair tried to grow very long, along with his finger nails. However the anti-aging part of his immortality stopped it and his appearance returned to normal. The same could not be said for his clothes. The sudden addition of over a hundred years was too much of a stain on the cotton and they dissolved like dust, leaving a very naked Harry stood in what looked like a pair of very old leather boots. Harry seemed unaware of this for a moment and as he passed the time lock he turned and grinned at the now blushing females. Even though this was the second time this day he had been naked, the first time people had been so traumatised by his burning that they had not noticed and Hermione had covered him quickly. This time however he was stood for all to see, with nothing but a grin on his face.
"Wow, Hermione you are a very lucky girl!" Luna breathed.
"Luna!" Hermione admonished, blushing at the comment.
Harry suddenly seemed to notice that he was a little cooler than normal and took this opportunity to look down. With a look of horror, he moved his hands to cover himself. Unfortunately he still had his wand in his hand, and managed to hit himself with it. With a cry of pain he crumpled onto his knees. The ladies all winced for him as he knelt there in pain. With a pained wave of his wand he cancelled the time-lock from his side of the room and Hermione moved to him. Conjuring a cloak and cloths she dressed him with another wave of her hand. "You okay love?" she asked him
"Yes!" came a higher than normal pitched Harry. With a feeble laugh Hermione pulled him into a hug, causing Harry to wince in pain again.
"Immortal maybe, but not immune to pain" he muttered. Once he had recovered they all walked over to the Diadem.
"Well, what do we do next?" Luna asked.
"Well we could smash it; that would get rid of the soul fragment." Hermione said.
"You can't destroy it, that's the Diadem of your Great Grandmother, it's said to contain eons of knowledge, and it's priceless." Luna told her.
"Okay then, we'll do it another way" and before anyone could stop her, she picked it up and put it on her head.
"NO!" Harry shouted, but it was too late.